About

$12,811

pledged of $3,000 goal

111

backers

Yuji Ramen was founded in the spring of 2012 as a pop-up restaurant in the back of a bar in Brooklyn. Since then, Yuji has worked to make ramen more culinarily creative and more accessible to the people in the US by innovating new styles of ramen and featuring fresh and local ingredients, especially seafood.

This spring we hope to hold the first-ever ramen omakase tastings in the US at a new pop-up location from mid-March through mid-May in Manhattan's East Village.

With your support we will invest in the equipment we need to realize the new styles of ramen we are envisioning for the spring. All contributions in excess of our funding goal will go towards the development of our first permanent location.

Risks and challenges

Sourcing local is never easy, especially with seafood, but our founder, Yuji Haraguchi has over 6 years experience working in seafood supply. At first, Yuji strived to import the highest quality seafood from Japan to the East Coast of the US, but Yuji soon fell in love with the many possibilities of locally sourcing American seafood. Yuji is always seeking new ways to highlight local seafood options and showcase the beauty available just off our own shores.

We have already invested a year in developing over 30 new preparations of ramen and building a strong fan-base in NYC. Now we are looking to take the leap from one bowl at a time to composing fulfilling, layered dining experiences.

Yuji has some very big dreams for ramen, though. In order to execute the details of his new styles, we need to acquire some modern culinary equipment prior to launching our omakase project. We're looking to invest in classic equipment like meat grinders and smokers, as well as more modern equipment like an immersion circulator, With the help of our kickstarter backers, we hope to get the funding we need to ensure that the next stage of our dreams can become edible reality for our fans and future fans.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

We will express our gratitude to backers of this tier with a five-course tasting menu and gives the backer priority over the general public in choosing their date to attend one of our ramen tastings.

Omakase seatings will take place Tuesday through Thursday at our pop-up location in the East Village starting March 11 through May 11. Kickstarter backers making date requests before March 5 are guaranteed their choice of date on a first-come-first-serve basis once Kashikiri Reservations have been scheduled.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $95 or more
About $95

Hand-crafted Mazemen Bowl - Please see our recent update for photos!
We would like to present one of our hand-crafted mazemen bowls to those who back us at this tier. These bowls were specially designed by a craftsman in Utsunomiya, Japan for serving mazemen. They are part of a limited set made specially for YUJI Ramen. Because they are fragile, we are very hesitant to ship this reward and would much prefer our backers at this tier collect this reward and receive our thanks in person.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $120 or more
About $120

Omakase Date Night

We humbly invite backers at this tier to attend one of our omakase seatings along with a date, lover, senpai or good buddy. This backing tier includes the same priority choice of omakase date as the $75 tier and a 5-course omakase menu for two people.

Omakase seatings will take place Tuesday through Thursday at our pop-up location in the East Village starting March 11 through May 11. Kickstarter backers making date requests before March 5 are guaranteed their choice of date on a first-come-first-serve basis once Kashikiri Reservations have been scheduled.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

Otokuisama Reservation

Seating for TWO at one of our 5-course ramen tastings, priority choice of seating, and a humble token of our most sincere thanks and appreciation, ONE hand-made ceramic mazemen bowl from YUJI founder Yuji Haraguchi's hometown. These bowls were designed just for Yuji's mazemen and are part of a limited set only available here and for Yuji's pending brick and mortar establishment.

Omakase seatings will take place Tuesday through Thursday at our pop-up location in the East Village starting March 11 through May 11. Kickstarter backers making date requests before March 5 are guaranteed their choice of date on a first-come-first-serve basis once Kashikiri Reservations have been scheduled.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $330 or more
About $330

Kashikiri Reservation
We gratefully offer a buy-out of one night of our Ramen Omakase for backers at this tier. This includes first priority when choosing a date for the omakase seatings, covers dinner for up to 6 people and extends the omakase to 7 courses of ramen and sashimi.

Omakase seatings will take place Tuesday through Thursday at our pop-up location in the East Village starting March 11 through May 11. Kickstarter backers making date requests before March 5 are guaranteed their choice of date on a first-come-first-serve basis. Kashikiri Reservations Made by February 26 will be scheduled before all other reservations.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $450 or more
About $450

Kashikiri Omiyage Reservation!

By request from the public, we are adding three nights of buy-out for backers at this tier. We're adding even more to the previously offered 7-course reservation for 6, though. This new backer tier will also include a gift bag for each guest in addition to first priority when choosing a date for the omakase seatings, Omakase seatings will take place Tuesday through Thursday at our pop-up location in the East Village starting March 11 through May 11. Kickstarter backers making date requests before March 5 are guaranteed their choice of date on a first-come-first-serve basis. Kashikiri Reservations Made by February 26 will be scheduled before all other reservations.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $700 or more
About $700

House Call YUJI Omakase!

Yuji and his team will personally come to your home or other suitable location of your choosing* and express their deepest gratitude for your support by personally preparing a 7-course omakase menu of ramen and sashimi designed just for you and up to 5 guests.

Please note, delivery of this reward is not available until June as the demands of managing our pop-up location will make it difficult to schedule a time to honor this reward before the end of May.

*Our apologies in advance for limiting the location to places we reasonably stage serving our food within 2 hours travel from lower Brooklyn.